A small act of kindness can go a very long way

By Dorothy Royal - Special to the Topsail Advertiser

Published: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 01:50 PM.

It is so easy to get overwhelmed in our society today. We are bombarded by phone calls, emails and letters asking for money … support this … save this … protect that. We can’t do it all, but sometimes it feels good to do something so simple that you can see the results before your very eyes.

Several weeks ago I asked the community to give a little to help to raise the money to buy a K-9 safety device for one of our Surf City K-9 patrol cars. The response was overwhelming. People from as far away as Fayetteville sent in checks and nice cards offering their support. It felt good. No one was overburdened, and together it came to be.

This past Saturday some of those people came together for a reunion of sorts to witness what their contributions had done. After watching the demonstration, I am wondering why every car doesn’t come with this amazing feature! When the inside air temperature hits 90 degrees, the sensors kick into gear and the horn sounds, the lights flash and the rear windows promptly drop, allowing fresh air to the rescue. Bravo, what a wonderful invention.

Raeford Brown (the marvelous host of Thunder Country 96.3 morning radio) took his photography skills to hand and with some commands and adjustments, he brought us all together for a smiling photo. Surf City Mayor Zander Guy, charming as ever, stood beside Sgt. Dawn and her canine Yadi with pride.

Dr. Williams from the Sound Cat was there to prove that cats do care about dogs! We had firefighters and law enforcement, scientists, pilots and craftsmen, teachers and students with artists together and proud. This was a grand moment in time.

It is so easy to get overwhelmed in our society today. We are bombarded by phone calls, emails and letters asking for money … support this … save this … protect that. We can’t do it all, but sometimes it feels good to do something so simple that you can see the results before your very eyes.

Several weeks ago I asked the community to give a little to help to raise the money to buy a K-9 safety device for one of our Surf City K-9 patrol cars. The response was overwhelming. People from as far away as Fayetteville sent in checks and nice cards offering their support. It felt good. No one was overburdened, and together it came to be.

This past Saturday some of those people came together for a reunion of sorts to witness what their contributions had done. After watching the demonstration, I am wondering why every car doesn’t come with this amazing feature! When the inside air temperature hits 90 degrees, the sensors kick into gear and the horn sounds, the lights flash and the rear windows promptly drop, allowing fresh air to the rescue. Bravo, what a wonderful invention.

Raeford Brown (the marvelous host of Thunder Country 96.3 morning radio) took his photography skills to hand and with some commands and adjustments, he brought us all together for a smiling photo. Surf City Mayor Zander Guy, charming as ever, stood beside Sgt. Dawn and her canine Yadi with pride.

Dr. Williams from the Sound Cat was there to prove that cats do care about dogs! We had firefighters and law enforcement, scientists, pilots and craftsmen, teachers and students with artists together and proud. This was a grand moment in time.

So remember knowledge is power and kindness can be priceless.

Dorothy Royal is the owner of Surf City Guns and Ammo, mother of two wonderful children, ringmaster of a herd of miniature ponies and an avid member of the Surf City Writers Group and Topsail Book Club.